The Dark-Hunters (673 page)

Aimee cast a sheepish glance to Kyle before she answered. “He’s important to me.”

“And my body parts are extremely important to me.”

Thorn turned to look at Fang while the images flickered around him. “Your little bear thinks an awful lot of you, doesn’t she?”

Fang didn’t answer. He was too floored by what she was trying to do on his behalf.

“Please, Xedrix,” Aimee begged. “I’ve lost enough people I cared about in my life. I don’t want to lose another. Fang is a good wolf and I can’t leave him like he is. We only have one more Daimon to kill to free him. For once I can save someone I care about. I can’t live with myself knowing that I failed this close to my goal.”

A female demon stepped forward and gave Xedrix a chiding stare. “Look at the poor bear. She loves him … how could you say no to that?” The demon shook her head, then looked at Aimee. “I’ll take you.”

Xedrix held his hand up. “No, you won’t. I won’t risk any of you. You have your freedom, you might as well enjoy it. Apollymi will take mercy on me for the desertion—which only means she’ll kill me quickly as opposed to torturing me first.” He sighed heavily. “I’ll take them in.”

The demons let out noises of protest.

“You’re our leader,” another of the men snapped.

“Yeah, head asshole, that’s me.” Xedrix pulled the towel from his shoulder and handed it to the male who’d spoken. “Enjoy the bar, guys. Remember what Kyle said. Only eat the tourists. No one will miss them.” He transformed into his true demon form, complete with black horns and wings. His clothes disintegrated into a loincloth.

He met Aimee’s gaze and his eyes glowed a sinister yellow. “Follow me.”

Aimee pulled him to a stop. “Thank you, Xedrix. I really appreciate this.”

“Really wish I could say the same. Damn bears, getting demons killed. What did we ever do to you?”

Kyle let out a nervous half-laugh. “Well, you did try to eat me.”

Xedrix scoffed. “Man up, Kyle. We only took one small bite.”

“And it got infected. That bite hurt for a month.”

Aimee laughed. “Be grateful it didn’t turn into rabies or something worse.”

Xedrix arched a brow at her comment. “You know, bear, I’d wait on the insults until after I get you inside and return you. It’s not too late yet for my common sense to prevail.”

Aimee waved his comments away. “Common sense is seriously overrated. You’re a demon. I thought your motto was ‘spoils to the victor.’”

“No, our motto is ‘everything tastes better with hot sauce.’”

“Then it’s a good thing you guys escaped into Cajun country where we have hot sauce on every corner.”

Xedrix flashed her a fanged grin. “Believe me, the beauty of that has not escaped our notice.” His features sobering, he took them to the alley behind the club and raised his arm. “I really hope Apollymi’s sleeping right now.…” He cut them a menacing stare. “Shield your eyes.”

They did and an instant later a brilliant white light flooded the alley.

Aimee grimaced in pain. Even with her eyes shielded, it was excruciating and blinding. Finally, the light faded. She lowered her hand to see a circle of black hovering in the alley.

Xedrix smirked. “Welcome to bolt-hole hell. The only good thing is that we won’t pop into the Daimon central hall at Stryker’s feet. We Charonte have a separate entrance.” He gave them a hard stare. “Listen to me and do what I tell you or it will seriously suck to be you. We’re entering the Charonte domain and they are usually hungry.”

Aimee nodded. “We’re right behind you.”

“Joy of my life,” he said, his tone dripping in sarcasm.

Xedrix entered first, slowly. He led them into a dismal black hallway. Raising his arm, he manifested a torch as he continued past doors where they could hear the sounds of demons talking. “What does this Daimon look like?”

Kyle answered before she had a chance to speak. “He’s tall and blond.”

Xedrix gave him a peeved glare. “Well, that narrows it down to every Daimon here except Stryker. What would that be? Several thousand of them? Could you be a bit more specific and if you tell me he was dressed in black, I’ll kill you myself and spare me the agony of dying.”

Aimee shook her head. “You’re a crabby little demon.”

“You should meet my master. She’s a true gem.” Then without warning, he put his hand on her head and closed his eyes.

Aimee scowled as images poured through her mind like he was scanning her memories by using a fast-forward button. It made her queasy and dizzy.

After a moment, he pulled back. “Cadmon … I know where that coward is.”

Kyle looked impressed. “So you can like suck out thoughts?”

Xedrix grimaced. “I prefer to suck out guts, but thoughts have their advantages from time to time. Now I suggest you adhere to silence. I’m only one demon among many here and while I … well, I really don’t care if you live or die but you do, and since we need Kyle to finish off the club … yeah, you have to live, so follow in silence.”

Aimee stayed right behind him through the winding hallways and then alleyways of Kalosis. She paused at the sight of the huge palace on the far hill. It glistened like polished jet against the dark background and sky. Sinister and awe-inspiring, she had to admire the beauty of it. “Let me guess,” she whispered. “Apollymi’s abode?”

Xedrix nodded. Putting his finger to his lips, he jerked his chin toward a small building across the street from them.

“I can’t be seen here by anyone,” he whispered, “or Apollymi will demand my return and death. You two will have to go in and find him.”

“How do you know he’s in there?”

He put his hand on her and she saw a perfect image of Cadmon asleep in bed with a woman.

“Thanks.”

He inclined his head to her. “Good luck.”

Aimee hesitated. “Kyle, I want you to stay here with Xedrix.”

“But—”

“No buts. You’re still new to your powers and this is serious. Stay here and don’t get seen.”

He nodded.

Aimee slipped through the shadows, making sure to avoid anything that might expose her. Her nerves were completely raw and she did her best not to be afraid. She knew she was powerful and strong, but she’d never had to fight alone before. While she was confident, she wasn’t arrogant. This was a dangerous place and she had no idea of the extent of Cadmon’s powers.

Keep your thoughts on Fang.…

That helped. She cracked open the door, grateful it wasn’t locked, and slipped inside the small house. It was so quiet that her mind filled the silence with the thrumming of her heart.

You’re about to slaughter a sleeping man.

She hesitated at the thought. All the other Daimons had attacked her, but this one …

He was sleeping at home.

Aimee hesitated as that thought washed over her. How could she possibly do this?

He’s killed hundreds of people to live. He’s not innocent by any means.

He’d attacked Fang when Fang had been tied down and helpless. Powerless. But all of that paled in the face of her conscience. This was murder. Not self-defense. Not justice.

Murder.

She gripped the stake in her hand.
It’s too late to chicken out now. Go and finish it.

How could she?

Stepping back, she bumped into a chair that made the slightest whispered scrape on the floor. Her heart sank.

Still there was no sound.

Thank the gods she hadn’t awakened anyone.

Aimee turned only to find the Daimon there behind her. His eyes were dark and greedy as he raked a delighted glance over her body.

“Well, well, what a tasty little morsel you are. While I didn’t order delivery, far be it from me to turn down such a thoughtful gift.”

Aimee kneed him hard in the groin. As he doubled over, she went to stab him in the back, but out of nowhere a female Daimon grabbed her and slammed her against the wall.

Dazed, she turned to fight only to have three more Daimons pop in. “What was this? An orgy?”

They attacked.

Aimee ducked the first one, and headed for the most important. Cadmon. The one who held Fang’s soul. He was the main one she had to kill. The others were simply target practice.

The female kicked her hard to the ground. Aimee flipped the Daimon over her body, then rolled to her feet. One of the men jerked her around. She slugged him hard across the face, her hand throbbing in protest.

Turning, she honed in on her target and slammed her fist into his chest.

It worked. The stake went in and he burst into golden dust.

But no sooner had he gone down than the others swarmed her. Aimee screamed as the female sank her fangs into her arm.…

*   *   *

Fang staggered back as he felt the last piece of himself come home to his body. For the first time in months, he took a true deep breath.

Thorn smiled wickedly. “Welcome back, wolf.”

But he wasn’t back yet and neither was Aimee. He was still trapped in this nether hell. “Can I go to her?”

Thorn grimaced. “That’s a little tricky. It breaks quite a few treaties to send you into a realm we don’t technically control.”

Fang panicked as he watched the scene on the wall. Aimee was losing.

Badly.

“They’re going to kill her, Thorn.” Then Fang did the one thing he’d never done in his entire life. He begged. “Please.”

Thorn held a hand out toward the wall where the images were displayed. “The doorway’s open. Better run for it.”

Fang didn’t hesitate. He ran at the images, half-expecting to crash into the wall and break his limbs or his neck.

He didn’t.

Instead he found himself in the room with Aimee and the Daimons. He grabbed the one who had her fangs still buried in Aimee’s flesh and pulled her head back. Manifesting a dagger, he stabbed her straight in the chest and let her dust fall all over him.

Aimee moved to kill the newcomer until her gaze focused on his face. Disbelief filled her.

“Fang?”

He manifested another dagger and put himself between her and the Daimons. He stabbed one and kicked another back. “Get out of here. Now.”

“Not without you.”

Fang couldn’t believe her as she took a post behind him, her shoulders pressed against his. “Aimee, listen to me. We’re in ground zero for the Daimons—there’s no way we can fight them all off. I need you to get out of here and wake me up. Then we’ll both be safe. Now go.”

Aimee hated that thought. But he was right. They couldn’t fight every Spathi Daimon here and if the Destroyer caught them …

As Xedrix said, it would suck to be them.

“Don’t you dare die on me, Fang.” She ran for the door and headed to where she’d left Kyle and Xedrix. “Get me home now.”

Xedrix teleported them out immediately.

Aimee scowled as she realized she was back in his club and not theirs. “I meant Sanctuary, Xed. Damn!” Growling, she flashed herself back to Fang’s room.

There he lay, still and unmoving.

Her heart pounded in terror and guilt for having left him alone to face the Spathi. Was he still alive? “Please don’t let those Daimons have gotten to you again.” She didn’t know if she could hunt them down anymore.

Terrified, she ran to the bed and shook his body to wake him. “Fang?”

He didn’t respond. Just as before, he was limp and cold.

Tears filled her eyes as emotions choked her. “Damn it, wolf! Don’t you dare do this to me. You better get up. Now! Do you hear me? Fang? Fang!”

Then she felt it. It was like a spark of electricity jolting him as he jerked hard in her arms. One moment she held a wolf and in the next, he was a naked man looking up at her with confused wonder.

One tear slid down her cheek at the sight of him alive and whole.

“Fang?”

Fang looked around the dark bedroom in disbelief that he was really back and that this wasn’t another dream that would turn into a nightmare. The scent of Aimee anchored him and held him grounded. He cupped her head in his hand and held on for everything he was worth.

“I’m back.…”

She squeezed him and laughed. “I was terrified they’d gotten you again.”

His laughter joined hers as he pulled back to show her the bleeding welt on his arm. “They tried.” Then he looked her over. “You weren’t hurt, were you?”

“Not really. Just the one bite, but it’s not too deep. I just can’t believe that you’re here again.” She braced her hands on each side of his face and smiled down at him. “Buddy, you need a shave and a haircut.”

Fang laughed. “Yeah, I can imagine.”

Her eyes danced with mischief and tears. “You know what this means, don’t you?”

“I need a bath more than I need a shave?”

Her smile widened as she teased him. “Well, yeah, that too. But no. You’re obligated to me. Big-time.”

“Your eternal slave. Always.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “Thank you, Aimee.” Those words were so paltry compared to the real gratitude he felt.

She’d saved him from an unimaginable hell. Without her, he would have never escaped.…

“You’re very welcome.”

He kissed her on the forehead before he lay back down on the bed and pulled a corner of the duvet over his lap. “I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.”

“Well, we’ve been trying to move your limbs while you were a wolf, but sometimes you were so stiff we couldn’t.”

Fang tried not to think about that. It was probably when he was being attacked by Misery and her crew. But all of that was behind him. He was back where he belonged.

Aimee brushed his hair back from his face. “Are you hungry?”

“Famished.”

“I’ll grab you something to eat and be right back.”

He took her hand as she started away. The warmth of her skin caught him off guard. In the other realm, she’d felt differently. Now he felt the true heat and softness of her body. “Stay with me a little longer.”

He’d been alone for so long that he didn’t want to be that way right now. He was afraid that if he was, somehow they’d suck him back into that hell realm.

Aimee heard the need in his voice. “I’ll summon Dev to bring you something.” She helped him tuck himself under the covers while she used her powers to ask Dev to bring food and water.